SUMMER ROMANCE

My Summer of Light Reading continues with this lovely gem by the wonderful Annabel Monaghan, who always tricks me with bright covers and cheery titles, but then catches me off guard when I’m unexpectedly moved by her characters and their stories.
🐶🐾
Ali, a newly single mom, is a professional organizer with a messy life when a meet cute with a handsome stranger at the dog park turns out to be not so strange after all. Ethan is Ali’s best friend’s brother, and he’s much more together than she remembers. A summer fling seems like a perfect idea, but can Ali let go of her grief over losing her mom, ending her marriage, and becoming someone she doesn’t recognize - to find joy, and her former self, again?
🐶🐾
This charming love story made me so happy! One of many things the author does so well is write about the many ways to demonstrate love. Ali and Ethan share a grown-up kind of thoughtfulness, prioritizing each other in tiny ways. I also loved watching these characters shed the expectations that have shaped them, learning to define who they are for themselves. Just like Ali helps her clients purge their homes, her own emotional catharsis allows her to find a better, lighter version of herself. Bonus: this book features adorable dogs AND a professionally organized kitchens. Pure joy!
🐶🐾
On their first date, Ali and Ethan share ice cream sandwiches. Ah, I thought, I’ll make those! Easy! Um, NO. The first batch was a crumbly fail that went directly into the trash. With recipe number two, I quickly froze them as I went along. They dripped everywhere no matter what! Hours later, I was up to my wrists in melted ice cream, sprinkles covering every surface of my kitchen. I finished shooting at midnight with sugary hands stuck to my camera - but I did it! Presenting: Ali and Ethan’s melty, homemade ice cream sandwiches, a delicious reminder that love can be hard work, messy and very sweet all at once!